Three member thin drawer slide

ABSTRACT

A drawer slide assembly with an outer slide member with an elongate planar web including a parallel offset portion, having upper and lower bearing raceways along the length of the web, an intermediate slide member with a elongate planar web, having inner and outer upper and lower bearing raceways along the length of the web, and an inner slide member having an elongate planar web with upper and lower bearing raceways along the length of the web, with bearings disposed between and in rolling engagement with the respective outer and intermediate slide members, and intermediate and inner slide members.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/329,057, filed Oct. 12, 2001, entitled Three MemberThin Drawer Slide, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if setforth in full herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to drawer slides, andmore particularly to telescopic drawer slides.

[0003] Drawer slides are often used to extendably couple drawers, trays,and rack-mounted equipment to cabinets, racks and the like. The drawerslides do so by having one elongate member coupled to the cabinet orrack, and another elongate member attached to the drawer or equipment.The elongate members are slidably coupled so as to be able tolongitudinally extend with respect to one another. This extension allowseasy access to the drawer or equipment.

[0004] One type of drawer slide is a telescopic drawer slide. Atelescopic drawer slide generally has an outer somewhat C-shaped member.An inner member, also generally C-shaped, is generally largely nestedwithin the outer member. At times, an intermediate member is placedbetween the outer member and the inner member. The inclusion of theintermediate member allows for increased extension of the drawer orequipment.

[0005] In some applications, ball bearings connect the slide members.The ball bearings are placed in raceways formed along the longitudinaledges of the slide members, and the bearings slidably, or rollably,connect the slide members. The use of ball bearings allows for a smoothand generally consistent action.

[0006] In many applications, particularly rack-mounted applications, thewidth of the drawer slide is of some importance. The use of drawerslides having a very thin width reduces the space taken up by the drawerslide, and allows equipment to be placed closer together, therebyallowing for more equipment to be mounted in a particular rack.

[0007] Decreasing the width of the drawer slide, however, does createsome problems. At times, the weight of the equipment can be substantial,and the drawer slide must be able to support substantial loads. This isparticularly so when the drawer slide is extended, with the weightsubstantially distant from the rack. Moreover, failure of the drawerslide to support the load is generally unacceptable. This is due, forexample, to the gross disparity between the value of the rack-mountedequipment and the drawer slide. This is also important, for example, forvarious safety reasons.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides a thin telescopic drawer slide.

[0009] These and other aspects of the present invention will be morereadily understood with reference to the following figures and theaccompanying detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a telescopic drawer slide inaccordance with the aspects of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of a telescopic drawer slide inaccordance with the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a cross-section of an outer slide member in accordancewith aspects of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a bearing raceway of the outer slidemember of FIG. 3;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a cross-section of an intermediate drawer slide memberfrom the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a cross-section of an inner slide member in accordancewith the aspects of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a mounting bracket in accordancewith aspects of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 7 anda strut of a mounting rack;

[0018]FIG. 9 is a side view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 7 and astrut of a mounting rack; and

[0019]FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 7attached to a drawer slide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020]FIG. 1 illustrates a telescopic drawer slide in accordance withthe aspects of the present invention. The drawer slide includes an outermember 11. The outer member has a substantially elongate web 13, anupper bearing raceway 15, and a lower bearing raceway 17 along upper andlower margins of the elongate web. The terms “upper”, “lower”, and otherdirectional terms are used for convenience of description, in accordancewith the usual mounting of the slide to a cabinet or the like.

[0021] Nestled within the outer slide member is an intermediate slidemember 19. The intermediate slide member has a longitudinal elongate web21. The intermediate slide member has an upper outer bearing raceway 23,an upper inner bearing raceway 24, a lower outer bearing raceway 25, anda lower inner bearing raceway 26, also along the upper and lowerlongitudinal margins of the elongate web. Nestled within the bearingraceways of the intermediate slide member is an inner slide member 27.The inner slide member has an elongate web 29 also with upper and lowerbearing raceways 29, 31, respectively, along the margins of the elongateweb. The slide members are longitudinally extendable with respect to oneanother.

[0022] The slide of FIG. 1 also includes latching features 16. Thesefeatures are discussed in more detail, for example, in U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/249,137, entitled Friction Slide, filed Nov. 16,2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

[0023]FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of the drawer slide of FIG. 1.The drawer slide includes an outer slide member 41, an intermediateslide member 43, and an inner slide member 45. Each of the slide membershas a respective vertical web 61, 63, 65 with bearing raceways formed inthe upper and lower margins of the vertical web. The intermediate slidemember is largely nestled within bearing raceways 51, 52 of the outerslide member, and the inner slide member is largely nestled withinbearing raceways 55, 56 of the intermediate slide member.

[0024] As can be seen in FIG. 2, bearings 47 are disposed between theupper raceways 51 of the outer slide member and upward facing upperraceways 53 of the intermediate slide member, and bearings 49 are alsoplaced between downward facing upper raceways 55 of the intermediateslide member and upper raceways 57 of the inner slide member. Similarly,the bearings are disposed between the raceways of the frame of the lowerbearing raceways of the outer slide member and the intermediate slidemember, as well as the intermediate slide member and the inner slidemember. The bearings slidably couple the slide members. Bearings may bedisposed directly in the raceways, or may be disposed within a bearingspacer 48 or retainer 58 within the raceway, which serve to retain andproperly space the bearings. In operation, the bearings also serve totransfer loads from the inner slide member to the intermediate slidemember, and then to the outer slide member. A cross-section of the outerslide member is illustrated in FIG. 3. The outer slide member has avertical web 71, with an upper bearing raceway 73 along the upper marginof the vertical web, and a lower bearing raceway 75 along the lowermargin of the vertical web. In one embodiment, joggled offsets 77, 79connect the vertical web to the bearing raceways. The offsets are in thesame general direction in which the bearing raceways extend from thevertical web, and connect the central portion of the vertical web 71, torespective end portions 78, 80. The end portions 78, 80 aresubstantially parallel to the central portion of the vertical web 71.The offsets minimize bowing or warping of the slide member whensubjected to vertical, horizontal, and/or torsional loads. In addition,the offsets provide an additional horizontal offset to the bearingraceways, which provides additional space for mounting hardware or otheritems between the webs of the outer and intermediate slide members. Theadditional space is useful,; for example, in thin embodiments ofthe-invention, and may be varied to accommodate clearance of specifichardware, such as particular size screws, rivets, stand-offs, pem-nuts,bayonets or other hardware known to those skilled in the art. In onesuch thin embodiment, a drawer slide with an envelope of 0.375 inch wideby 1.62 high was formed.

[0025]FIG. 4 further illustrates the joggled offset of the outer slide,and also illustrates a gusset 81 in the bearing raceway. The lineargusset runs substantially along the length of the bearing raceway. Asillustrated, the gusset is substantially along a center line of thebearing raceway. The linear gusset serves to constrain movement,particularly lateral movement, of bearings placed in the raceway. In oneembodiment the gusset is formed by pressing on the surface of thebearing raceway. This pressing action serves to provide a cold reducedwork hardened surface for contacting the ball bearings, and this surfacelimits the Brunelling effects.

[0026] In one embodiment the linear gusset allows for a 65 degreecontact angle for a ball bearing placed in the raceway. In addition, theradius of the linear gusset provides clearance to allow for pointcontact of, in one embodiment, a three millimeter size ball bearing.

[0027] In one embodiment, integral stops are formed into the upper andlower bearing raceways. The stops provide contact with and contain thebearings or bearing spacers, while maintaining the material integrity ofthe outer member channel, and providing maximum shear strength for theformed stops. Such stops may be placed as desired to limit longitudinalmovement.

[0028]FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section of the intermediate slidemember. The intermediate slide member includes a substantially verticalweb 91 with bearing raceways 93, 95 along the upper and lower margins ofthe vertical web. The vertical web includes a central portion 97, insetfrom the upper portion 96 and lower portion 98 by two jogs 101, 103 inthe vertical web. The inset central portion allows for increaseddistance between the vertical web of the intermediate slide member andthe vertical web of the outer slide member, as may be seen in FIG. 2. Inone embodiment, the central portion of the vertical web is offsetsufficiently to provide clearance for a #8 screw. It will be appreciatedthat the design of the offset distance may be varied to accommodatespecific mounting hardware. The inset also provides increased rigidityof the slide member to minimize torsional twisting and bow along thelength of the slide member.

[0029] In one embodiment, the ball races are formed by bending a portionof a slide member to form a largely doubled-over section approximatelyat right angles to the vertical web. The doubled-over section forms,using the upper bearing raceways as an example, an intermediate to outermember bearing raceway 105 and an intermediate to inner member bearingraceway 107. The two raceways are offset vertically. The vertical offsetallows the material forming the raceways to provide substantiallyconstant material thickness along the bearing raceways. The constantmaterial thickness allows for maintenance of slide member materialintegrity and improved load bearing capacity. Connecting the tworaceways is an angled transition 109 providing for increased rigidity ofthe member along the ball races.

[0030] A cross-section of the inner slider member is illustrated in FIG.6. The inner slide member has a vertical web 111 with upper and lowerball bearing raceways 113, 115 along the upper and lower margins,respectively, of the vertical web. The raceways are offset from the weba sufficient distance to provide clearance for mounting hardware used tomount the inner slide member to a drawer or equipment. The width of thevertical web is also sufficient to allow for lancing, forming tabs, andthe like for use in mounting.

[0031] Returning to the slide of FIG. 1, it may be seen that mountingbrackets are coupled to the slide. More specifically, in FIG. 1 a frontmounting bracket 151 is coupled approximate a front edge of the outerslide member, and a rear mounting bracket 153 is coupled approximate arear edge of the slide member. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the mountingbracket includes a face plate 161. The face plate is adapted to beplaced with one side 163 against the outer slide member. Mounting holes165 extend through the face plate to allow mounting screws, hardware andthe like to secure the face plate, and thereby the mounting bracket, tothe outer slide member.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the mounting holes are arranged intriangular patterns approximate the forward and rearward edges of theface plate. The placement of the holes in such a pattern allows themounting bracket to be more easily used with slides of varying profiles,particularly varying heights. In one embodiment, the holes are extruded,with an extrusion 167 extending outwards from face plate away from theside of the face plate mounted to the outer slide member. Theextrusions, in one embodiment, are threaded, thereby allowing forincreased ease of use, and perhaps more importantly decreased hardwarerequirements, for mounting the face plate to the outer slide member.

[0033] The mounting bracket also include wrapping flanges 171, 173 (seenalso in FIG. 1) extending along the top and bottom edges of the faceplate. The wrapping flanges extend in the direction of the slide. Thewrapping flanges are adapted to hug or receive the outer slide member,as may be seen in FIG. 1. The wrapping flanges thereby provide increasedsupport to the slide member to which the mounting bracket is mated, inthis example the outer slide member.

[0034] Returning to FIG. 7, the mounting bracket also includes a frontflange 181. The front flange extends from what for convenience will betermed the front of the face plate. As will be evident, if not soalready, the mounting bracket may be mounted to the slide with eitherthe front of the face plate in the direction of the front of the slideor the rear of the slide. The front flange extends in the direction awayfrom the slide, when the mounting bracket is mounted to the slide.

[0035] Three holes 183 are placed in the front flange. The holes areplaced in a line, and are suitable for receiving bolts, pins, and otherhardware for attaching the mounting brackets to face frames, verticalbeams, racks, and similar structures. As may be seen in FIG. 1, thefront flange extends away from the slide, and is largely perpendicularto both the direction of extension of the slide and a plane formed bythe vertical webs.

[0036] The holes in the front flange, in one embodiment, are embossed,protruding towards the front surface of the front flange (with “front”as considered with respect to the discussion of the front flange). Theholes therefore allow for more easier seating of, for example, pinsplaced from the rear of the front flange through to the front surface ofthe front flange. Moreover, for racks 190 with square holes 191, orsufficiently large round holes 193, as may be seen in FIG. 8, theextending protrusions on the front of the front flange allow morereadily for seating of the flange in position on the rack duringinstallation.

[0037] In one embodiment disposable pins 201 are also provided toincrease ease of installation. As may be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pinsare substantially cylindrical with a bulge 203 about the middle of thepin. The bulge is sized with respect to the holes in the front flange toprovide a tight fit, allowing for the pins to be snapped into the holes.The diameter of the forward edge of the pin is sized relative to theholes, or cutouts, in the racks such that the pins may be placed in thecutouts, thereby supporting the mounting bracket, and slide, duringinstallation. After installation is complete and mounting hardware ispositioned and secure, the pins may be removed and disposed.

[0038] In one embodiment, the pins include a slot 205 about the middleof the pin. The slot creates a weakened area in the pin about the frontflange. This weakened area, when additional force is provided to leverthe pin about the front flange, is designed in one embodiment to breakand free the pin from the flange when no longer needed. In anotherembodiment, force is applied to the front of the pin, releasing the pinfrom engagement with the front flange when the pin is no longer needed.

[0039] The present invention therefore provides a thin drawer slide, andaccompanying useful related items. Although the invention has beendescribed with respect to certain embodiments, it should be realizedthat the invention may be practiced other than as specificallydescribed. Accordingly, the invention should be viewed as the claimssupported by this specification and their equivalents.

1. A drawer slide assembly comprising: an outer slide member having anelongate planar web, bounded by and substantially perpendicular to anupper bearing raceway and a lower bearing raceway along the length ofthe planar web, the profile of the planar web defining end portionsbounding a substantially parallel offset central portion; anintermediate slide member having an elongate planar web, bounded by andsubstantially perpendicular to upper inner and outer bearing racewaysand lower inner and outer bearing raceways along the length of theplanar web, the profile of the planar web defining end portions boundinga substantially parallel offset central portion; an inner slide memberhaving an elongate planar web bounded by an upper bearing raceway and alower bearing raceway along the length of the planar web, and aplurality of bearings disposed between and in rolling engagement withthe respective outer and intermediate slide members, and intermediateand inner slide members.
 2. The drawer slide assembly of claim 1,wherein the bearing raceways of the outer slide member each include abearing gusset to receive the bearings.
 3. The drawer slide assembly ofclaim 2, wherein the bearing gussets have a hardened surface.
 4. Thedrawer slide assembly of claim 3, wherein the hardened surface of thebearing gusset is a cold reduced work hardened surface.
 5. The drawerslide assembly of claim 2, wherein the gusset provides a 65 degreebearing contact angle.
 6. The drawer slide assembly of claim 1, whereinthe bearing raceways of the outer slide member include formed stops. 7.The drawer slide assembly of claim 2, wherein the respective upper andlower inner and outer bearing raceways of the intermediate slide memberare formed by a doubled-over portion of the intermediate slide member.8. The drawer slide assembly of claim 7, further comprising an angledtransition section connecting the inner and outer raceways.
 9. Thedrawer slide assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least onemounting bracket attached to the outer slide member.
 10. The drawerslide assembly of claim 9, wherein the mounting bracket includes a faceplate adapted to be attached to the outer slide.
 11. The drawer slideassembly of claim 10, wherein the face plate includes mounting holesarranged in a triangle pattern.
 12. The drawer slide assembly of claim11, wherein the mounting holes are extruded.
 13. The drawer slideassembly of claim 11, wherein the mounting holes are threaded.
 14. Thedrawer slide assembly of claim 9, wherein the mounting bracket includesa front flange adapted to attach the bracket to another structure. 15.The drawer slide assembly of claim 9, wherein the mounting bracketincludes wrapping flanges which receive the outer slide member.
 16. Thedrawer slide assembly of claim 9, further comprising at least one pinadapted to secure the mounting bracket to another structure.
 17. Thedrawer slide assembly of claim 16, wherein the pin is disposable. 18.The drawer slide assembly of claim 16, wherein the pin is substantiallycylindrical.
 19. The drawer slide assembly of claim 18, wherein the pinincludes an enlarged section about its middle.
 20. The drawer slideassembly of claim 18, wherein the pin includes a slot about its middle.21. A drawer slide assembly comprising: an outer slide member having anelongate planar web, bounded by an upper bearing raceway and a lowerbearing raceway along the length of the planar web; an intermediateslide member having an elongate planar web, bounded by upper inner andouter bearing raceways and lower inner and outer bearing raceways alongthe length of the planar web; an inner slide member having an elongateplanar web bounded by an upper bearing raceway and a lower bearingraceway; a plurality of bearings disposed between and in rollingengagement with the respective upper bearing raceway of the outer slideand the upper outer bearing raceway of the intermediate slide, the lowerbearing raceway of the outer slide and the lower outer bearing racewayof the intermediate slide, the upper inner bearing raceway of theintermediate slide and the upper bearing raceway of the inner slide, andthe lower inner bearing raceway of the intermediate slide and the lowerbearing raceway of the inner slide; and a mounting bracket, having aface plate adapted to be coupled to a slide member, wrapping flangesextending substantially perpendicularly from the face plate and adaptedto receive a slide member, and a front flange substantiallyperpendicular to the face plate and adapted to be coupled to astructure.
 22. A drawer slide member comprising: an outer slide member,comprising a central vertical web portion; an upper vertical portion,substantially parallel to and offset from the central vertical webportion; an upper arm extending generally horizontally from the uppervertical portion, having a generally flat longitudinal bearing racewayfor receiving bearings therein; a lip extending generally downwardvertically from the upper arm; a lower vertical portion, substantiallyparallel to and offset from the central vertical web portion, whereinthe upper and lower vertical portions are substantially aligned; a lowerarm extending generally horizontally from the lower vertical portionhaving a generally flat longitudinal bearing raceway for receivingbearings therein; a lip extending generally upward vertically from thelower arm; an intermediate slide member, comprising a central verticalweb portion; an upper vertical portion, substantially parallel to andoffset from the central vertical web portion; an upper arm extendinggenerally horizontally away from the upper vertical portion to form afirst upper bearing raceway, the arm further extending at an angle fromthe raceway, then extending generally horizontally toward the uppervertical portion to form a second upper bearing raceway; a lowervertical portion, substantially parallel to and offset from the centralvertical web portion, wherein the upper and lower vertical portions aresubstantially aligned; a lower arm extending generally horizontally awayfrom the lower vertical portion to form a first lower bearing raceway,the arm further extending at an angle from the raceway, then extendinggenerally horizontally toward the lower vertical portion to form asecond lower bearing raceway; an inner slide member, comprising avertical web portion; an upper arm extending generally horizontally fromthe vertical web; a lower arm extending generally horizontally from thevertical web; and a plurality of bearings disposed within and in rollingengagement with the bearing raceways.
 23. The drawer slide assembly ofclaim 22, wherein each bearing raceway of the outer slide memberincludes a linear gusset to receive the bearings.
 24. The drawer slideassembly of claim 23, wherein the gusset is pressed into the raceway.25. The drawer slide assembly of claim 23, wherein the gusset is workhardened.
 26. The drawer slide assembly of claim 23, wherein the gussetis cold reduced work hardened.
 27. The drawer slide assembly of claim23, wherein the gusset provides a bearing contact angle of 65 degrees.28. The drawer slide assembly of claim 22, wherein the ball bearing sizeis nominally at least 3 millimeters.
 29. The drawer slide assembly ofclaim 22, further comprising a mounting bracket.
 30. The drawer slideassembly of claim 29, wherein the mounting bracket includes a face plateadapted to engage the outer slide.
 31. The drawer slide assembly ofclaim 29, wherein the mounting bracket includes mounting holes arrangedin a triangular pattern.
 32. The drawer slide assembly of claim 31,wherein the mounting holes are extruded through the mounting bracket.33. The drawer slide assembly of claim 31, wherein the mounting holesare threaded.
 34. The drawer slide assembly of claim 29, wherein themounting bracket includes a front flange, adapted for engaging astructure.
 35. The drawer slide assembly of claim 34, wherein the frontflange includes embossed mounting holes.
 36. The drawer slide assemblyof claim 29, wherein the mounting bracket includes wrapping flanges,adapted to receive the outer slide.
 37. The drawer slide assembly ofclaim 34, further comprising a pin adopted to couple the front flange toa structure.
 38. The drawer slide assembly of claim 22, wherein thenominal width of the drawer slide assembly is 0.375 inches.
 39. A drawerslide member comprising: an outer slide member, comprising a verticalweb; an upper arm extending generally horizontally from the vertical webhaving a generally flat longitudinal bearing raceway for receivingbearings therein; a lip extending generally downward vertically from theupper arm; a lower arm extending generally horizontally from thevertical web having a generally flat longitudinal bearing raceway forreceiving bearings therein; a lip extending generally upward verticallyfrom the lower arm; an intermediate slide member, comprising a verticalweb; an upper arm extending generally horizontally away from thevertical web to form a first upper bearing raceway, the arm furtherextending at an angle from the raceway, then extending generallyhorizontally toward the upper vertical portion to form a second upperbearing raceway; a lower arm extending generally horizontally away fromthe vertical web to form a first lower bearing raceway, the arm furtherextending at an angle from the raceway, then extending generallyhorizontally toward the lower vertical portion to form a second lowerbearing raceway; an inner slide member, comprising a vertical webportion; an upper arm extending generally horizontally from the verticalweb; a lower arm extending generally horizontally from the vertical web;and a plurality of bearings disposed within and in rolling engagementwith the bearing raceways.